Improvement in life-preservers



2 SheetsSheet 1.

0; J. BUNKER. LIFE PRESERVING SHIRT 0R JACKET.

No. 18,274. Patent-ed Sept. 29, 1857.

aw/7X 0)? v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

0. J. BUNKER. 'LIPE PRESERVING SHIRT 0R JACKET.

Patented Sept. 29, 1857.

Wmemes:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES J. BUNKER,

OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN LlFE-PRESERVERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 18,274, dated September29, 1857.

T0 or whom it may concern/.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES J. BUNKER, of the city and State of NewYork, have invented certain Improvements in Li fe-Preservers; and I dohereby declare that the following is a full and exact descriptionthereof, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, and to theletters of reference marked thereon, and making a part of thisspecification.

The nature of my improvement consists in constructing a life-preserverthat will cover theupper and vital parts of the body, and in soarranging the air-cells or series of air-cells between sheets ofwaterproof fabric that while perfect support is given to the body freemovements of the limbs and body are allowed, and an injury by punctureor otherwise to any one or more of the cells will not affect thoseimmediately next thereto.

The Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings represent the outer and inner sheetsof the fabric from which the life-preserver is made and the cells ofeach. Vhen these are placed together, the air-cells of one occupy thespaces in the other not taken up by its air-cells. The edges marked 1and 2, respectively, join each other.

The form which I generally give my improved life-preserver is that of ashirt or sack, which can be worn either as an outside or inside garment,according to the preference of the wearer or the circumstances underwhich made use of. The drawings representa lifepreserving shirt. It mayalso be made of different materials, as india-rubber cloth, or anymaterial which is or becomes impervious to water and will retain air,according to the particular use for which intended; but whatever thematerial it is constructed substantially as follows: It is made of twoor more sheets of any such water-proof fabric, the spaces or cavitiesbetween which are designed as and for air-cells to be inflated in anyconvenient manner to secure buoyancy and otherwise protect the wearer.Such air cells may be made larger or smaller, according tocircumstances, and may be made of different shapes, as preferred, but soarranged in relation to each other as to maintain the characteristicfeature of the life-preserver, viz., the fitting in of the cells to oragainst each other and for greater security when desired. The

air-cells between any two sheets of the fabric or one series of cellsmay be inflated separately from another series, or the series mayconnect with a valve which shall allow the air to pass from one to theother, butnot back again. This arrangement secures greater security fromblows or punctures of contiguous cells. When the air passes from oneseries to another by the use of a valve, as described, a screw-cap maybe attached to allow the air to escape. Such series of air-cells shouldbe made to fit into or alternate with each other-that is, one cell of aseries being opposite to a blank space of the other series, as aopposite a, and b opposite band should also cover all the superior andvital portions of the body above the Waist and leaving the arms andlower limbs free to be used, and also protecting, as by a shield, allthe upper and vital portions of the body against the dash of the waves,or when cast upon rocks, wrecked, &c. The shape of the shells, as shownin the drawings, is but for illustration, and there need be but twocells upon a side, or even one cell or series occupying the whole frontand another series the back.

\Vhen made of thinner fabric for ladies wear or for bathing purposes,the arrangement and form of the air-cells may be more elaborately andexpensively treated, while in coarser fabrics a plainer and cheaperconstruction will be adopted. These air-cells will also only cover thebody and thus not interfere with the free action of the arms.

lVhen made in the form of a chemise, this life-preserver can beconveniently substituted in the place of the ordinary bathing-shirt,thus at the same time serving the purposes secured by them and alsofurnishing a protection against danger. \Vhen intended for such use, thefabric used may be finely closelywoven linen, as such when wet becomesat once air and water tight, and will so remain so long as kept wet; andwhen made of such material the garment may be worn as an ordinary shirtwithout any discomfort, but capable of being made at once a means ofsafety as soon as wet, and supplied also with a similar outside garmentthe person will be doubly protected.

When intended more particularly for outside wear, this life-preservermay be made of india-rnbber cloth or the like, and can be substituted inthe place of the ordinary south- Westers, and will thus be peculiarlyacceptable to sailors, Wreckers, &c.

Instead of being closed at the sides under the arms, the life-preservermay be open at the sides, fixed with straps and buckles, so as to bethrown over the head and then secured to the person.

What I claim as new is man A 1ife-preserver constructed of two or moresheets of water-proof fabric, with the series of air-cells arrangedsubstantially as set forth and so as to cover the upper and vital partsof the body, for the uses and purposes set forth and described.

CHAS. J. BUNKER.

Witnesses:

S. D. LAW, THos. S. GEORGE.

